“He went away for the Africa Cup of Nations, and I don’t really think he’s played a game since.

“That’s an ongoing problem that he has, and he needs to be right to play.

“He hasn’t been right or correct – it’s as simple as that. He hasn’t been able to build up his fitness, but I know Cheick well, and I couldn’t be any stronger in terms of saying that he’s not any trouble.

“He’s no bad egg – he just wants to play football.

“But he’s not been able to do that, so he’s frustrated. He’s definitely not been feigning injury.”

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